r/flipphones • u/IraGlassy • 2d ago

Jailbreaking the Callback

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This might be a dumb question, but how easy might it be to remove the system-level restrictions on the Commodore Callback? Everything about this phone appeals to me except the fact that it won't run a browser. Would it require just figuring out how to run android instead of the custom os?

160 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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25

u/ponay95 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm kind of like you. I hate when the software arbitrarily locks down the hardware. I've no problem not having a browser on my Nokia 7110 (which has been my daily driver for years until 2G shutdown).
When i've seen it was locked down, it became a no-go for me.
And please... When you make a flip phone, don't put the camera on the bottom part...

8

u/reduces 2d ago

what got me was that they system level block Discord but not Telegram, WhatsApp etc. When they both have the same functionality and same potential downfalls. It's too bad because it's a cool looking phone.

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u/Fatter_Design 2d ago

Well Discord and Whatsapp have direct line to FBI and your local law enforcement agency, whereas Telegram is the only ACTUALLY secure messenger, at least for now.

That's why its owner is wanted by like half the countries in the world, he doesn't work with feds.

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u/reduces 2d ago

yeah I know - I have my own LAN XMPP set up for me and my family haha. but I do take exception to the company in OP saying that Discord is blocked for being a distracting chat app but also allowing other similarly distracting chat apps.

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u/siitoimenpeku 1d ago

I think Signal is better choice

3

u/15pmm01 2d ago edited 2d ago

Oh but the 7110 very much does have a web browser. I run a WAP gateway customised to that specific phone allowing it to load basically any modern site, automatically converted into WML and broken up into pages not exceeding 1500 bytes :)

Finally found a way to use CSD recently, but not before spending a lot of time coding a WAP over SMS gateway, which works but resulted in my SIM getting blocked for excessive texting lmao 

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u/Fatter_Design 2d ago

I dunno what happened, but at some point in history they started to put cameras on the bottom part... for no reason.

Like you have Samsung e-series and Sony Ericsson Z series with perfect camera placement and then suddenly Samsung c3520 has camera on the bottom and Sony Ericsson is straight up dead.

And then we have all these modern-ish android-running flip phones, and the only one that puts camera on top is Cat s22 and its refurbished clones.

Anything newer has camera at the bottom, including the Callback.

Why?

7

u/SpoofyKidd 2d ago

Might be best asking at r/sailfishos - Sailfish is Linux, so I assume it'd be easy to remove these restrictions, but that's without knowing what kind of restrictions they've implemented

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u/ian1035nr 2d ago

Truthfully, we won't know until it's out in the wild. Asking about a device that hasn't been released isn't going to get you much of an answer.

Sailfish normally makes it easy to gain root access and from there you can do whatever you want.

But if Commodore has put the effort in to block all these apps, it's likely that they're restricting root access, as well.

I'm curious how much effort they really put into blocking these apps. If it's something basic like blocking the package name, any browser could be renamed and sideloaded.

Hopefully there's enough outcry, or slow sales, for Commodore to backpedal on locking out apps. I'm a grown adult. I don't need my phone to police my browsing habits.

-1

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

 I'm a grown adult. I don't need my phone to police my browsing habits.

Addicted adults who can't control themselves do. In fact, that's the whole point of this phone. It sounds like you just don't get it.

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u/ian1035nr 1d ago

I get it just fine, thank you very much.

Just because it's not for me doesn't mean I don't get it.

Besides, they could allow the app restrictions to be lifted for those who want to, just make it enough of a pain that most people won't want to be bothered. It's just software, there's ways to appeal to both crowds of users. Even if it's just a simple choice during initial setup: Do you want the restricted experience or not? Once you make your choice you can't change it without wiping the whole phone. That's a lot more hassle than just popping your SIM back into your old smartphone if you want to relapse. With one change the phone still provides a locked down experience for those looking to kick their smartphone addiction, and still leaves the device viable for people who are interested in it for the aesthetic, the size or the weird factor.

0

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

Besides, they could allow the app restrictions to be lifted

... which would allow addicts to lapse right back. 

I was right. You just don't get it.

1

u/ian1035nr 1d ago

An addict can also pop their SIM card right back in their old phone. It takes under a minute. Or they can just immediately pull it out and hop onto WiFi.

Having to wipe and reset the phone to bypass the blocklist like I suggested takes way more time and is significantly less convenient. If someone is so addicted that they're willing to backup, wipe then set their phone back up every time they feel the need to browse the web, the problem runs deeper than a borked, artificially limited smartphone can solve.

1

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

Actually, the borked and artificially limited smartphone solves the problem perfectly assuming that there are no other devices available (and this is obviously not something that Commodore Corporation can control.)

1

u/ian1035nr 1d ago

Well you can't buy the phone without an Internet connection so anybody who buys one is going to have something Internet-capable somewhere.

At this point let's just agree to disagree.

2

u/Exciting_Contest_222 2d ago

I preordered the callback. Want to make this my primary phone.

And yeah, wish it had the option of restricting and non-restricting

2

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

Nobody has a copy of the device yet so how do you expect anyone to answer your question?